Despite arriving back in the UK after the heat wave we still have been very fortunate with the weather. In particular for Katrine’s birthday family BBQ. There is always a worry when planning an outside event in advance that the weather won’t be on your side, and in fact the forecast was not promising at all. So we were all delighted to open the curtains to an idyllic summer’s day.

The garden was all decked out in the birthday bunting, which is dragged out 4 times a year for at least 5 years and is still going strong. The balloons were less of a success, they we long spiral balloons that you had to blow up fully to get the shape, but then they all burst when the sun heated them up and the air expanded.

Richard seemed to enjoy his role as outside chef!

How much quintessential English Summer can you get than a stripped tablecloth in the shade of an old apple tree?